Machine for code marking labels, wrappers, cartons, or the like



June 30, 1953 M, o. s uvE 2,643,718

MACHINE FOR CODE MARKING LABELS, WRAPPERS. CARTONS OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 13, 1950'- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIYVEJVTOQ, Weak/cs 0 Saw/EN June 30, 1953 2,643,718

M. O. SAUVEN MACHINE FOR CODE MARKING LABELS. WRAPPERS. CARTONS OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 13. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 30, 1953 "r OFHCE MACHINE FOR cons MARKING LABELS, WR-APPERS, CARTONS, on THE LIKE Maurice Oswald Sauven, Ealing, London, England Application November 13, 1950, SerialNo. 195,244. In Great Britain August 3, 1949 13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine for code marking labels, wrappers, cartons or the like and more particularly to machines for code-dating, batch-numbering or otherwise making distinguishable marks on labels or the like by means of very small notches or saw cuts made in an edge of each label.

A machine for the above purpose has previously been proposedwhich comprises a slidable carrierfor the labels which are advanced be-.

neath or above a multiplicity of circular cutting blades which are adapted to act on the edges of a batch of labels and form code notches therein.

The object of the present invention is to provide a greatly simplified form of machine of this character wherein coding elements are capable of being quickly and easily adjusted to move them into or out of operative positions when varying the code, the code consisting in providing a series of spaced nicks which are spaced apart from one another and from a datum line'at a predetermined distance so as to indicate a date, number or other date which it is desired to record. For code dating for example, the nicks representing the day, month and year are arranged at predetermined distances from the datum nick and their positions are varied with the date.

Broadly, according to the present invention, there is provided a machine for code marking labels, wrappers, cartons or the like, wherein the coding member comprises a rotary disc which accommodating a series of cutting knives or blades in different planes parallel with the said side face of the disc and with their cutting edges in juxtaposition to'the periphery of the disc.

With a preferred form of the invention the other side face of the disc is formed with one or more recesses of uniform depth for accommodating cutting blades for cutting a datum nick in the edges of the labels and from which the nicks produced by the series of parallel cutting blades are spaced at predetermined distances to indicate the date to be recorded. Packing pieces, preferably of the same material as the disc, are introduced into the recesses to retain the blades in position and these packing pieces in turn are held in position by screws which pass through radially directed slots in the first mentioned blades which are located in parallel planes in order that these bladesmay be slid radially inwardly or outwardly so that they can, according to requirements, be set inoperative or inoperative positions in which they project beyond the periphery of the disc or are retracted into the recesses.

Looking on the edge of the disc, the adjustable knives will be visible as they extend around the periphery of the disc but the knives will be offset progressively across the edge of the disc in parallel planes. 1 v

Such an arrangement 'enables a perfectly balanced cutting disc to be obtained as each knife and its associatedpacking piece correspond exactly with the depth of the recess (measured from the normally vertical side face of the disc) so that the disc forms a solid member in which the weight is equally distributed.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into efiect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention by way of example. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is, a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrow A on Fig. l. v

Fig. 3 is a view of the rotary cutting disc lookingon the face having the adjustable cutting blades. n

Fig. 4 is a view looking on the edge of the cutting disc.

Fig. 5 is a section of the cutting disc taken on the line V--V of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the cuttin blades.

Referring to the drawings thecutting disc I is mounted .on a rotatable shaft 2 and is fitted at one side with a pair of fixed cutting blades 3 mounted in recesses at that side of the disc and which are intended to form the register mark or datum line from which the-code is deciphered. These blades 3 are thicker than adjustable blades i to be referred to and one or any other required number of these fixed blades 3 may be employed provided they rotate in the same plane. Alternatively a complete circular saw may be employed. These fixed blades 3 are located in radial recesses provided adjacent to the peripheral edge of the disc I at that side and are retained in position by screws 5 which are threaded through a packing piece 6 and through the blades 3 into the disc I, the outer faces of the packing pieces being flush with the side face of the disc.

The adjustable cutting blades 4 are capable of being moved into or out of operative positions and are accommodated in radial recesses formed in the other side of the disc I and adjacent to the periphery thereof. The depths of these recesses measured from the face of the disc at this side, i. e. the distance vary so that each blade 4 outs in a different plane to the others but is parallel therewith. Generally the difference between the depth of one recess and an adjacent recess will be a fixed and regular amount.

With the embodiment being described, twelve such adjustable cutting blades 4 are employed which are spaced equally around the circumferences of the disc I and the blades 4 positioned so as to cut in planes spaced of an inch apart, the first blade being 1 of an inch from the fixed blade or blades, the second blade A from the fixed blade and so on across the edge of the disc.

Each recess, with a movable cutting blade 4 therein, is closed by a packing piece I which is preferably of the same material as the disc I so as to maintain the complete disc in correct balance. Each blade 4 as clearly shown by Fig. 6 is formed with a radial slot 8 through which a fixing screw 9, also threaded through the packing piece I, is screwed into the metal of the disc I.

To move a blade 4 into or out of an operative position it is therefore only necessary to slacken the screw 9 and move the blade outwardly or inwardly radially from the centre of the disc 1 and thereafter tighten the screw 9. The weight of each blade 4 is so small compared with the weight of the disc 1 that any upsetting of the balance and equilibrium of the disc is so insignificant as to be negligible.

Any number of adjustable blades 4 may be used on discs of different diameters and the blades may be made to cut in planes which are equally or unequally spaced apart so as to form any out required.

Preferably the outer cutting edges of the blades 3 and 4 are serrated or formed with saw-teeth, as indicated at Ill.

Where it is required to apply coding notches to the edge of. a curved label, the setting of the blades 4 may be adjusted to suit the curvature of the label by varying the length of the slot 8 in each blade 4.

Alternatively a template corresponding with the shaped edge of the label to be cut may be made to fit on to the machine just over the top of the disc I where the latter protrudes through the roof of the base so that when the blades 4 are extended outwardly during setting they contact the metal template to correspond with the curvature of the latter and therefore that of the labels, the template of course being removed before a cutting operation is performed. a

The machine may conveniently comprise a hol low inverted box-like baseframe H having slidable thereover 'a centrally and longitudinally slotted carrier plate 12 on which is mounted an L section pusher plate [3 which is movable by a worm I4 fitted through a flange l5 upstanding from the front end of the carrier plate [2 and which is fitted withan operating handle IE at its outer end and which when actuated will move the pusher plate 13 along the carrier l 2 to clamp a batch of such labels on the carrier plate l2 between said pusher plate l3 and a complementary relatively stationary locating plate I! provided at the rear end of the carrier plate 12.

The disc 1 is located underneath the top of thecutting blades 3 and 4 penetrating the adjacent and lower edges of the batch of labels as they are slid rearwardly by sliding the carrier plate l2.

Preferably the pusher plate I3 and the normally stationary locating plate I! are movable over the upper surface of the base frame H as a unit with the carrier plate 12 to feed the batch of labels progressively over the knives 3 and 4 projecting from the peripheral edgeof the cutting disc I but it will be appreciated that the disc knife could alternatively be supported above the carrier plate [2 so as to act on the upper edges of the labels.

Conveniently the cutting disc I is mounted on a shaft driven by an electric motor provided in a housing formed at one side of the machine.

The shaft 2 for the cutting disc I may conveniently be supported in a bearing sleeve 20 which extends through an opening 2| in one vertical side wall of the base frame H and this sleeve 29 is carried by or formed integral with a plate 22 which is pivoted at one end on a pivot pin 23. A stud 26, screwed or otherwise firmly secured at its inner end to the machine frame H, is provided on its outer end with a screw thread on to which is screwed a clamping lever 24 serving to lock, in a set position, an adjusting lever 25, a boss on the inner end of whichisdrilled to take over the said stud 26 so that the lever 25 is free to rotate about said stud.

On the inner end of the said boss and integral therewith is an eccentric portion shown in dotted lines in Figure l, which takesinto a horizontally elongated hole in the plate 22. 7

Thus it will be seen that by releasing the clamping lever 24 and rotating the adjusting lever 25 the said eccentric portion is rotated about the fixed stud 26 and serves to swing the plate 22 slightly upwardly or downwardly about its pivot 23 to raise or lower the cutting disc to vary the depth of cut, the lever 25 being held in its adjusted position by tightening the'clamping lever The outer end of the shaft 2 is fitted with a driving pulley 21 which may be driven by an electric motor carried by the base H or separate therefrom.

I claim: a

1. A machine for code marking labels, wrappers, cartons or the like, wherein the coding member comprises a rotary disc which is formed in one side face with a plurality of radially directed recesses of different depths measured from said side face of the disc, a series of cutting blades each mounted in'a recess and in different planes parallel with the said side face of the disc and with their cutting edges in juxtaposition to the periphery of the disc, and means for mounting each of said blades for radial adjustment so that each blade can be selectively set with its'cutting recorded.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotary cutting disc is supported beneath a movable carriagefor' feeding a batch oflabels or the like above the disc so that the lower edges of the labels are engaged and cut by the cutting blades in the disc.

4*. A machine according. to claim 1, wherein the series of cutting blades located in parallel planes are of uniform thickness and are retained in the recesses by packing pieces made of the same material as the disc.

5.'A machine according to claim 1, wherein the packing pieces are retained in the recesses by. means of screws which pass through slots in the cutting blades into the disc, the slots in the blades being radially directed to permit the blades being moved radially into operative or inoperative positions.

6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotary cutting disc is accommodated within a hollow inverted box-like base having a slot in its top Wall through which the periphery of the disc may protrude, a slidable carrier on the base upon which a batch of labels is clamped, said carrier formed with a slot which registers with that in the top of the base through which the periphery of the disc may also protrude so that the operative cutting blades out into the lower edges of the labels.

7. A machine for code marking labels, wrappers, cartons and the like and comprising a frame, a rotary disc journaled in the frame and having in one side face a plurality of radially directed recesses of difierent depths measured from that side of the disc, a first series of cutting blades each mounted in a recess and in different planes parallel with the said side face of the disc and with their cutting edges in juxtaposition to the periphery of the disc, means for mounting said first series of blades for radial adjustment so that each blade can be selectively set with its cutting edge projected to an operative position beyond the periphery of the disc or retracted to an inoperative position beneath the periphery of the disc, the other side face of the disc having one or more recesses of uniform depth measured from that side of the disc, a second'series of blades for cutting a datum nick in the edges of the labels and from which the nicks produced by the parallel cutting blades of the first series are spaced at predetermined distances to indicate the data to be recorded, and a movable carriage mounted on the frame above the disc and for feeding a batch of labels or the like above the disc so that the lower label edges are cut by the cutting blades in the disc.

8. The machine according to claim 7 and wherein the series of cutting blades located in parallel planes are of uniform thickness and are retained in the recesses by packing pieces made of the same material as the disc.

9. A machine for code marking labels, wrappers, cartons and the like and comprising a frame, a rotary disc journaled in the frame and having in one side face a plurality of radially directed recesses of different depths measured from that side of the disc, a series of cutting blades each mounted in a recess and in different planes parallel with the said side face of the disc and with their cutting edges in juxtaposition to the periphcry of the disc, means for mounting each of said blades for radial adjustment so that each blade can be selectively set with its cutting edge projected to an operative position beyond the peof uniform thickness, "and packing pieces made of'the same material as the. disc for 'retaim'ngthe blades in the-recesses;

1s. A machine for code marking labels, wrappers, cartons and the like and comprising a frame, a rotary disc journaled in the frame and having in one side face a plurality of radially directed recesses of different depths measured from that side of the disc, a-first series of cutting blades each mounted in a recess and in differentplanes parallel with the said side face of the disc and with their cuttin edges in juxtaposition to the periphery of the disc, means for mounting each of saidfirst series of blades for radial adjustment so that each blade can be selectively set with its cutting edge projected to an operative position beyond the periphery of the disc or retracted to an inoperative position beneath the periphery of the disc, the other side face of the disc having one or more recesses of uniform depth, and a second series of radially fixed blades for cutting a datum nick in the edges of the labels and from which the nicks produced by the riphery of the disc or retracted to an inoperative parallel cutting blades of the first series are spaced at predetermined distances to indicate the data'to be recorded, the series of blades located in parallel planes being of uniform thickness and retained in the recesses by packing pieces made of the same material as the disc.

11. A machine for code marking labels, wrappers, cartons and the like and comprising a frame, a rotary disc journaled in the frame and having in one side face a plurality of radially directed recesses of different depths measured from that side of the disc, a series of radially adjustable cutting blades each mounted in a recess and in different planes parallel with the said side face of the disc and with their cutting edges in juxtaposition to the periphery of the disc, and means for mounting each of said cutting blades for radial adjustment so that each blade can be selectively set with its cutting edge projected to an operative position under the periphery of the disc or retracted to an inoperative position beneath the periphery of the disc.

1.2.A machine for code marking labels, wrappers, cartons and the like and comprising a frame,

a rotary disc journaled in the frame and having in one side face a plurality of radially directed recesses of different depths measured from that side of the disc, a first series of cutting blades each mounted in a recess and in different planes parallel with the said side face of the disc and with their cutting edges in juxtaposition to the periphery of the disc, means for mounting each of said first series of blades for radial adjustment so that each blade can be selectively set with its cutting edge projected to an operative position beyond the periphery of the disc or retracted to an inoperative position beneath the periphery of the disc, the other side face of the disc having one or more recesses of uniform depth, and a second series of radially fixed blades for cutting a datum nick in theedges of the labels and from which the nicks produced by the parallel cutting blades of the first series are spaced at predetermined distances to indicate the data to be recorded.

'13. A machine for code marking labels, wrappers, cartons and the like and comprising a frame, a rotary disc journaled in the frame and having in one side face a plurality of radially directed recesses of difierent depths measured from that side of the disc, a first series of cutting blades each mounted in a recess and in different planes 7 parallel with the said side face of the disc and with their cutting edge in juxtaposition to the periphery of the disc, means for mounting each of saidfirst series of blades for radial adjustment so that each blade can, be selectively set with its cutting edge projected to an operative position beyond the periphery of the disc or retraoted to an inoperative position beneath the periphery of the disc, the other side face of the disc having one or more recesses of uniform depth, and a second series of radially fixed blades for cutting a datum nick in the edges of the labels and from which the nicks produced by the parallel cutting blades of the first series are spaced atvpredetermined distances to indicate the data 15 to be recorded, and a movable carriage mounted on the frame above the disc and for feeding a batch of labels or the like above the disc so that the lower label edges are cut by the cutting blades in the disc.

MAURICE OSWAID SAUVEN.

. References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 12,164 Kayes Jan. 2, 1855 176,511 Carpenter et al. Apr. 25, 1876 617,012 Griffin Jan. 3, 1899 745,965 Lyon Dec. 1, 1903 1,280,218 Hawthorne Oct. 1, 1918 2,589,512 Rue et a1 Mar. 18, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,747 Great Britain 1884 

